City Beat: Things to be proud of and a focus for this year

One such case is that of Junior Rankin, 43, who sold a self-loading pistol and ammunition to Malcolm Parker, 67, in Bretton.

The pair admitted their respective involvement and were given lengthy prison sentences in July.

Gun crime is so rare in the county that this truly was shocking. I’m proud of the officers involved in the investigation who were able to apprehend the pair before the firearm was used and bring them to justice.

Weapons like this have no place in our society and Cambridgeshire is certainly safer with this firearm off the streets.

Drug-related custodial sentences linked to Operation Hypernova 2 have also continued to flow in over the past 12 months. The operation saw 51 county lines dismantled and 33 people charged with 93 drug and human trafficking offences.

Many of the convictions related to the sale of class A drugs in the Peterborough area. These substances can be devastating for those who get trapped in addiction and county lines in particular can be linked to the exploitation of children to sell drugs. I’m proud of our ongoing work in this incredibly important area.

One piece of work I’m particularly pleased with from last year is the implementation of the Spree Offender Team for Peterborough and Fenland.

The team focus on some of the most prolific offenders in the county, with much of their work involving retail crime.

We recognise the financial impact retail crime has on local businesses, but also the psychological effect it can have on hard working staff who deal with these incidents.

Particularly when they are accompanied by threats, intimidation or even violence.

Since their implementation in July the team have made dozens of arrests, with many leading to custodial sentences.

It’s important we are doing all we can to support local businesses, and I believe the implementation of this team is a big step forward.

Last year also saw a change in leadership for the Constabulary. I’d like to issue a warm welcome to Chief Constable Simon Megicks and Deputy Chief Constable Chris Balmer. Both are former Cambridgeshire officers who know the county very well and are keen to drive public service to make our communities even safer.

Looking ahead to 2026, I’m keen that we keep up the momentum from the Neighbourhood Policing Guarantee by providing an increased visible presence across Peterborough to tackle key priorities.

Reducing knife crime is going to be at the top of our agenda for the city this year. Knife crime incidents involving serious injury have reduced, however we have seen a rise in the number of people caught in possession of weapons.

We will be working closely with key partners in this area. Youth engagement will be key, as will an increase in proactive patrolling. Particularly in the city centre.

If you’d like to stay informed about policing in your area, please visit our neighbourhood policing pages, follow the Policing Peterborough Facebook page, or sign up to eCops for regular updates.